For as long as I can remember, September has always been the month synonymous with the Nationalist Party Independence Day celebrations. These celebrations are usually a platform to not only highlight and recall the realisation of Independence for our country, a historically tremendous feat in itself, but also to convey contemporary political issues over the years.

This year’s celebrations were poignant because of a number of factors.

First of all, the celebrations were the first occasion for the newly-chosen PN leader, Simon Busuttil, to address a mass meeting. He delivered his speech to the party faithful and to the nation with passion, enthusiasm and bucket loads of positive energy.

Fresh from a party defeat at the polls, still in the midst of party restructuring and, yet, his vitality is infectious and has provided a much-needed injection of fortitude among party activists.

Simon Busuttil did not beat about the bush as to what led the party to defeat at the polls

In his speech, Busuttil acknowledged the performance and dedication of previous PN leaders who managed to transform this nation from a third world country to the first class country it is today, an independent country, member of the European Union, a country determined to defend democracy and liberty.

He did not beat about the bush as to what led the party to defeat at the polls. True that Joseph Muscat emerged as an excellent salesman, leading his party to victory with a honey trap of fancy slogans and grand promises, however, Busuttil admitted that the PN needed to learn from mistakes made in the past in order to be able to move on.

Possibly, one of the greatest factors affecting the electorate’s decision must have been the perception of a divided party that, ultimately, scored us no points on the credibility front.

The new PN leadership, led by Busuttil, Mario de Marco and Beppe Fenech Adami, is fully committed to ensuring that TeamPN is a strong, united party ready to win back the electorate’s confidence not out of default but as a determined, forthright alternative government offering the best direction and vision for our country’s future.

The second striking factor was that both the PN leader and the Archbishop chose this year’s Independence celebrations to remark upon the moral fibre of Maltese society.

At the Independence Day Pontifical Mass, Archbishop Paul Cremona suggested that a government entity should devote its efforts to speaking about the country’s ‘moral fibre’ or, rather, I suppose, the degeneration of it.

Busuttil also referred to this in his Independence Day speech and warned about the importance of safeguarding a number of values. It is interesting to note that, right after his election to leader, he appointed an internal party commission to study the changes affecting Maltese society.

I am sure that the findings and results will make compelling reading and instigate a number ofbthought-provoking discussions. Lastly, of course, the PN leader could not help but refer to the PL’s first six months in government, a party that was elected with a rallying cry of political responsibility and meritocracy and is now showing its true colours.

They say a leopard never changes its spots. Muscat’s supremely successful efforts pre-election to present his party as a modern, progressive movement won him the election and, yet, post-election we are witnessing a steady decline in principles, transparency and political responsibility.

The Floriana granaries were this year once again host to the annual Independence Day celebrations, which were successfully held despite financial challenges.

It was a pleasure seeing so many stepping forward, offering their services to the party and not only for these celebrations.

This hub of activity within the party is a testament to the fact that challenges will be determinedly faced in our journey to ensure that past accomplishments are not repressed and that the future opens up as many innovative opportunities as possible for generations to come.

Info@carolinegalea.com

Caroline Galea sits on the Nationalist Party’s executive committee.